The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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As the first Regular Session of the Quadrennium evolves there are a myriad of complex issues arising. I am reminded of three simple truisms regarding the Alabama legislature and the governing of the State of Alabama. First of all, if anything significant or controversial or any major initiative is to be addressed, then it is dealt with in the first year of the four-year quadrennium. Thus, giving legislators three years before their constituents vote on them again. The political pragmatism and...
Trading in commodities, which are ingredients or components of finished goods, is the focus of global commerce. Information about commodities, their availability, and the impact of events that create scarcity, affects both current and future prices. Two hundred years ago, one significant commodity was tallow, a substance rendered from animal fat that was used to make candles, served as a basis for early skin care ointments, and was an essential ingredient of soap. Today, when we think about...
Hello my fellow Robservationites! Today I am bringing you the 16th Edition of my “Bits and Pieces.” For all of you who are familiar with this column, you know there comes a time when there is so much going on that I just want to touch base with several stories instead of focusing on just one topic. So, here we go. But first, this is my 158th Robservation. Anyone who knows me realizes that I write a lot about German ace Hans-Joachim Marseille. He shot down 158 airplanes. What does that mean? Wel...
The incident occurred in Florida on the interstate. The two men are from different states but with the incident occurring in the sovereign State of Florida, Florida law and jurisdiction applies regardless of the law in the residential states of the two men. Florida, as you may recall has a “stand your ground” law. Alabama also has a similar stand your ground law but we will discuss the Florida law and incident. Two families driving down a Florida became involved in a road rage incident bet...
At six years old traveling with my family and passing several churches along our way to church, I recall asking my father, who is right and why are there so many different churches? My father did not have an answer. Fast forwarding as an adult, routine discussions in Christian circles were often centered around; what did the New Testament Church look like? Every church wishes to emulate the early church this side of the resurrection. Since the reformation in 1517, this discussion continues with...
On April 10th Richard Lagrand (who recently lost reelection as the incumbent last summer) was reinstalled to Lee County Commission District 5 by Gov. Ivey, reaffirming her fidelity to ACCA, BCA, et al corruption over the citizens of Lee County. The death of Commissioner Harris (see my February 2022 Gazette column) soon after taking office provided a perfect example for Ivey to show resolve on holding a special election with an entire term of office unexpired. Obviously this wouldn’t bode well w...
As long-range battery technology advances by leaps and bounds, there is no question that the popularity of electric cars and trucks will rapidly advance in the next few decades, due primarily to far greater fuel economy and expected shortages of petroleum and possible cutoffs from OPEC and other hostile countries. Ford, General Motors, Toyota, and many others are ramping up production. But one company is far ahead—TESLA. It makes ONLY EVs. In July, 2003, Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning f...
Maybe in North Korea, maybe in Cuba, maybe in Iran – but not in the United States, the land of religious liberty. Well, maybe in Boston, or San Francisco – but certainly not in Selma, Alabama, right in the center of the Bible belt. But it happened. A man was arrested for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the street. It was Halloween 2022. People in Selma were walking, some in costume, in an annual Monster March. And Rickey Caster, a Georgia street evangelist accompanied by his sister, came...
“I supported President Lincoln. I believed his war policy would be the only way to save the country, but I see my mistake. I visited Washington a few weeks ago, and I saw the corruption of the present administration—and so long as Abraham Lincoln and his Cabinet are in power, so long will war continue. And for what? For the preservation of the Constitution and the Union? No, but for the sake of politicians and government contractors.” J.P. Morgan—American financier and banker, 1864. Many individ...
A huge portion of America has probably been clinging to their throw pillows and couch cushions just waiting for the final details of King Charles’ coronation in the United Kingdom to be announced. This week it was revealed that Prince Harry will be attending his father’s coronation. Wife Meghan will remain in California with the children. All media outlets have been more than generous with their reporting. Journalists have long attempted to explain people’s interest in the Royal family. Milli...
So often in this life when we are wronged, betrayed, offended, or treated unfairly. In the moment, we want to rise up to defend our rights and on our own point of view. Or we fight to get even. Or even stew in silence while nursing our wounds and getting angrier. It’s hard to extend the same grace and compassion that Christ Himself extended to others in the midst of His own pain. Yet He set the example, the way for us to walk. To be betrayed or wronged by one who was trusted is a difficult h...
Alabama's original 1901 Constitution had a law whereby the governor could only serve one four-year term and not succeed themselves. In 1968, the law was changed and since then the governor and all other constitutional offices in the state can now serve two consecutive terms. This one term and you are done, made for a very interesting, anticipated, and competitive governor's race every four years. They could begin four years in advance in earnest, and they would begin. Since Kay Ivey will be...
The desire for freedom and liberty is universal, but achieving it can take the effort of a lifetime. On March 15, 1848 - 175 years ago - Hungary revolted against the constraints imposed by both its Austrian masters and the authoritarianism of its ruling class. As a former Warsaw Pact country, little is known about the history of democratic institutions in Hungary. And it would be easy to conclude that the country’s experience with self-determination and independent government is recent. To the c...
I just finished watching Top Gun Maverick for the one billionth time. No, it never gets old. The wife and I really love that movie. When watched sequentially with the first movie, the changes are really eye opening. Among the most noticeable is “Phoenix” played by Monica Barbaro. Good luck finding a female combat pilot in the first movie. They did not exist at the time. To me, this is the most noticeable change. Women have fought hard to earn the right to fly these advanced aircraft and it is...
I recall the discussion of respondeat superior in law school and examples. It is obviously a Latin term and means, “that the master must answer”. The rule was first found in England and later the doctrine became a part of law in the United States. It can be used for both civil and criminal acts. In a civil sense I think of it as being useful when an employee wrongs a client or patient then the employer is liable if the act by the employee fell within the scope of their employment. As an exa...
Being involved in Republican politics for 43 years, and serving in two gubernatorial administrations, enables you to meet some pretty smart people. I often reflect by saying many people have skyscraper tall opinions, but ankle deep in factual based positions. When it comes to economic, social, moral and constitutional conservatism, very few have a depth on the issues along with the institutional and historical background all in one package. Curiosity peaking yet? Rush Limbaugh was the...
Five years ago my Alabama Gazette column featured a rendition of The Auburn Creed (originally penned by George Petrie in 1943) aptly re-titled The Auburn Greed. Petrie’s original prose righteously opens with this preamble impressed upon all Auburn students as follows: “I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.” Four score and steadfast tyranny of many high-plains grifters - e.g., Bobby (FDIC) Lowder, Ed Richa...
Electric cars are not new; they have been around for more than a century. According to Wikipedia, the first one was built by Robert Anderson in the 1830's. In 1884, Thomas Parker built one and equipped it with “his own specially-designed high-capacity rechargeable batteries.” In 1888, Andreas Flocken created a “Flocken Elektrowagen,” which some people claimed was the first “real” electric car. In September, 1910, two Bailey Electrics completed a 1000 mile endurance run from New York to Mount Wa...
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recent “national divorce” comments angered nationalists, globalists, and others who view these United States as an “unbreakable union.” How could such authoritarian thinking evolve from a country that was founded on individualism, voluntary self-government, and belief in God? At least part of this agenda can be traced to the Southern States being militarily forced back into a Union they democratically voted to leave. Abe Lincoln rebuffed multiple compromise efforts initi...
The lessons of baseball and life begin in Spring – play by the rules, try your best, and the sun will still come up again if you lose. Farmers keep pace with the changing seasons. The American food grower knows to bend with these changes, but they are sustained by the promises of Spring. As long as there is another Spring, there will be another chance. Not bound by the set dates on the calendar, the remnants of winter are sometimes slow to go, but soon the sun’s warmth will grow stronger eve...
For Christians, Easter represents Jesus Christ’s victory over death. His resurrection is proof He is the Son of God, and it is the reason we can find hope in an eternity spent with Him. During Easter, we celebrate what we believe to be the biggest moment in history. Before celebrating Easter Sunday, however, many observe Good Friday. On this day, we remember how Jesus was persecuted and put to death. Jesus was crucified and took on the sins of the world, even though He was blameless. Because o...
Many of you may be surprised to know that politicians and preachers are often friends while on earth. They actually run in the same circles in their communities as well as around the state. It has been my pleasure to have known a good many Godly ministers. During my lifetime here in our beloved state of Alabama, there have been some outstanding ministers, but three men stand out as legendary and will go down in the annals of Alabama history as the three greatest preachers of this generation....
The world Nicholas Copernicus was born into was wrong. Indeed, 550 years ago, almost everything people thought about the world and their place in it were based on false ideas. Without necessarily meaning to, Copernicus shook his world to the core and ushered in a revolution in science. Everyone in the western world believed that the earth was stationary and was the center of the universe. People might argue about other things, but everyone accepted the earth’s role and believed everything r...
Okay, I am going to show my age. There was an episode in the 1966-67 season of the comedy F-Troop when Hekawi Chief Wild Eagle is sitting with his sidekick Crazy Cat when Crazy Cat looks up into the sky and says, "Chief, I have a riddle for you. What has big round shape, carries man and dog and flies?" The chief answers he doesn't know but when he looks up into the sky, he exclaims, "IT IS BALLOOOOOON!" For more than fifty years, I have remembered that stupid episode and have often looked up in...
Yes, as an adult I think it is an important document to address the possibility of imminent death when you are no longer able to communicate your health care in certain circumstances. A Living Will in addition to the naming of a health care proxy make up two documents that can function independently but collectively are part of a document called an “Advance Directive for Health Care”. The first component is the Living Will. The Living Will states that you are an adult (at least age nineteen in...
